Final Summary on Term Limits

Since we're getting close to the end of early voting in MoCo and close to election day (Nov. 8), I thought it might be useful, at least to me, to make some points about term limits, Question B on our ballot. I'll mix facts and opinions and make it clear which is which: 

(1) The current County Council Members have, in my opinion, make some very poor decisions in the last couple of years. This has made it much easier for those who support term limits to gather petition signatures, and possible to win on election day. I write this despite the fact that some ignorant people have said since the Council appointed me to a position I must slavishly do their bidding and I might even be getting paid by them to write that term limits are a bad idea. 

(2) It is a provable fact that term limits will not help at all for those who feel the Council has made some poor decisions. Those who say such things as that I-270 is crowded, the Council adopted a large property tax increase, and the Council adopted higher salaries may be right -- but it should be noted that no increase in Council salaries can take place until after an election, so where were the anti-salary increase people when the last election was held in 2014? What is a provable fact is that term limits have nothing to do with these issues and won't solve a single one of them. The proponents of term limits haven't even tried to present facts to support their claims, since there are no facts or evidence that support their position. 

(3) It's also a provable fact that term limits will not solve a single problem anyone has with our County Council. I have what is now an 89 page research paper (I update it when I see new facts) that summarizes all the research on this subject. Every book and article agrees -- after extensive research of what has happened in the 15 states, 9 large cities, and many counties that have adopted term limits -- that term limits do not lead to "new ideas," do not result in lower but rather higher spending and taxes, lower voter turnout, give much more power to paid lobbyists, and fewer women and minorities are elected. There are many effective ways to deal with Council actions with which you disagree. Term limits is not one of them. 

(4) Although the proponents of term limits will claim victory if they win the upcoming election, their claim will be false. Four of the 5 Council Members who may become term limited, plus the Council Executive, are not running for reelection in 2018 even if term limits are defeated. So the proponents of term limits are wasting their time and the voters' time.. 

(5) The only logical thing for MoCo voters to do about this issue is to defeat Question B on the ballot next week, and then work on other issues such as a firm Charter cap on tax and salary increases, and restructuring of the Council so we don't have 3 of the at-large members all from the same part of the Council. The Charter Review Commission is available to receive these suggestions. 

(6) Of course, the real solution to all the issues that have been raised is for voters to become better educated, vote for Council members whose views you like and vote against those you feel are not representing you well, regardless of how long or short a time they have been in office.